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Mancuso 2nd, Three USA in Top 10

by

USSA

2012-01-07 09:42

Julia Mancuso charged to second in Bad Kleinkirchheim to lead three Americans into the top 10. (Getty Images/AFP/Christophe Pallot)

BAD KLEINKIRCHHEIM, Austria (Jan. 7) - Julia Mancuso (Squaw Valley, CA) stormed to second and led three Americans into the top 10 at the Audi FIS Alpine World Cup downhill in Bad Kleinkirchheim. World Cup overall and downhill leader Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) survived a big mistake right out of the starting gate to finish fourth, missing the podium by a mere five hundredths. Reigning downhill World Champion Austrian Elisabeth Goergl of Austria won for her first World Cup downhill victory.

HIGHLIGHTS

Julia Mancuso scored her best downhill finish since winning World Cup Finals last March finishing second

Mancuso has now been on the World Cup podium for downhill, super G and giant slalom this season

Lindsey Vonn, still fighting a stomach bug, expanded her Audi FIS World Cup overall lead by finishing fourth

Vonn also continues to lead the World Cup downhill standings

Stacey Cook was eighth, Julia Ford 22nd, Laurenne Ross 23rd and Alice McKennis 26th for six Americans in the top 30

It was the first race for Ross back after a Dec. 3 downhill crash and the first World Cup points for Ford

Reigning downhill World Champion Elisabeth Goergl captured her first World Cup downhill victory

A super G is scheduled for Sunday in Bad Kleinkirchheim

QUOTESJulia MancusoIt was very difficult and I was hoping for the win, but you had to hold on and fight. It was set pretty straight at the bottom, so you can go really fast, but you pay for it if you can't hold the line.

The light and conditions were really tough. You have to make a lot of direction before the hill just drops away. You're fighting it the whole way.

It was a really cool to see such a solid performance from our team. Lindsey is always fast, but it was good to see Stacey in there and Laurenne right back in it after her crash in Lake Louise.

Lindsey VonnI didn't really have a good feeling from the very beginning. My balance and my energy wasn't quite there. I've been struggling with being sick and I'm trying to find my strength again.

I'm really happy for Julia with second and for Liz Goergl for winning at home. I'm still happy with fourth considering where my strength is, but Lizzy and Julia skied really well and deserved to be on the podium.

Julia FordI came down and felt I had a good run, but when I saw everyone cheering in the finish, I said 'yes, finally.'

It is so cool to be part of such a strong team. I train with all these girls and I know how fast they are so that gave me the confidence to know I could do it too.

TVUniversal Sports will air the downhill at 11 a.m and 8 p.m. ET on its 24-hour TV network